It's hard to believe, but it's that time of the year again - the beginning of a new school year. Welcome back! And while you aren't part of the teaching staff you are just as important to your children's education as we are.
Below are some things I thought might be helpful to share or review before August 24. As always, if you have any questions or ideas, send them along via email (porischt@billingsschools.org) or phone (697-5934).
I’ll be in the classroom most of the week of August 9, 2011. Drop in if you are in the neighborhood. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
Updates as of August 12th are in purple.
Updates as of August 12th are in purple.
Free copy of Gifted Press Quarterly
New Room
Could you share the following message with your STAFF, TEACHERS OR PARENTS? We are offering a complimentary copy of Gifted Education Press Quarterly. They would need to email me directly to receive our SUMMER 2011 issue. My email address is:
gifted@giftededpress.com
gifted@giftededpress.com
SAMPLE ISSUE: SPRING 2011:
New Room
We will be in a new room at Poly Drive. Our room will be the former Music room. The students know where it is. But for parents, it is in the other wing of the school and is the last room on the right. If you are entering the building from the playground, it will be the first room on the left.
We will have individual desks this year, and we have carpet. We still have the computers in our room, and Mrs. Meier had the new white “cubbies” put into our new room. THANK YOU!! All of the rooms at Poly Drive have new windows! J From the outside they have a dark tint. However, from the inside, you can see easily to the outside.
Parent Volunteers
I did a lousy job of utilizing those of you who indicated you would be willing to volunteer in the classroom last year. But I have a better grip on what I would like help with.
Basically, I am thinking that there would be 3 ways you could volunteer.
- 1. If you would like to create Word documents AT HOME and send them to me as attachments, I have a need for that type of help.
- 2. If you would like to work with individual students or small groups, I would have a need for help like that.
- 3. If you would like to assist with preparation of materials or correcting, I would appreciate help.
If you do either 2 or 3 above, you may have to fill out some confidentiality paperwork and/or have a background check done. I think that is just SOP.
Supply list
This is the same one I sent home in the report card. However, the items in red and purple are new.
1 box of tissues
5 folders with pockets
5 folders with pockets
3 Notebooks: WIDE ruled
Theme paper: 2 reams
Theme paper: 2 reams
1-ruler that does not bend but has metric measurements on it
colored pencils
colored markers
colored markers
12 pencils sharpened
3 blue or black pens 1 red pen
1 pair of scissors (there are lots still at school)
3 glue sticks (there are NONE at school J )
1 flash/thumb drive (the one from last year will be fine)
2 Sharpies: 1 extra fine tip and 1 fine tip
1 container for pens & pencils, preferably one that ZIPS/VELCROS shut
Snacks
We will again be having a time in the morning for a brief snack. Due to an ant infestation last year, I would ask that snacks that will be kept at school be sent in a closeable container. A Ziplock baggie would work well. Please make sure all snacks that will be left at school are clearly labeled with the student’s’ name. As a reminder, I do not allow sharing of snacks.
School email address accounts
Students will be getting an email account the first few weeks of school. The main use of this account will be to access Word documents for assignments. Instead of printing off 25+ documents OR dragging and dropping documents into 25+ individual folders, this will allow me to put the document up in the Google docs cloud and allow the students to access it and work on it. Of course, they can print it off as well. As always, if you do not want your child to have this access, you will be able to decline, and I will print off a copy for them to use.
I will also be using the addresses to set up user accounts for some academic games.
ALEKS.com
I have had parents ask what they can do at home to provide challenge in math or to enhance their child’s performance in math.
A web site that you might want to check out is http://www.aleks.com. This web site has tutorials for students in math content areas. If you like what you see, you have to pay to continue using it. I cannot recommend that you do this, but I know that it greatly enhances student understandings as well as test scores.
You can "take a tour" and "begin for free--trial". I would suggest this to familiarize yourself with the site and see if you think it might be something you'd be interested in.
When I go in for the free trial, I say I'm a student, take the 30 question quiz, and make some mistakes. That way when you are done, it will recommend the topics and lessons and it will let you try some of them. I would suggest the 6th/Middle School quiz.
There are protractors, compasses, etc that you can use right on line within the program. If you (the student) are not familiar with how to use them, there is a tutorial. Also, if the student has not learned "opposite interior angles", for example, there is a lesson with 2-3 practice problems after they learned the lesson.
The student is free to choose any math area (algebra, geometry, probability, etc) and work at their own pace. There is a "pie" that shows their knowledge and changes as they complete successfully the practice problems. There is also an area where they can go in and see their "report". However, I cannot see their progress. Only the person signed in can see it.
When I go in for the free trial, I say I'm a student, take the 30 question quiz, and make some mistakes. That way when you are done, it will recommend the topics and lessons and it will let you try some of them. I would suggest the 6th/Middle School quiz.
There are protractors, compasses, etc that you can use right on line within the program. If you (the student) are not familiar with how to use them, there is a tutorial. Also, if the student has not learned "opposite interior angles", for example, there is a lesson with 2-3 practice problems after they learned the lesson.
The student is free to choose any math area (algebra, geometry, probability, etc) and work at their own pace. There is a "pie" that shows their knowledge and changes as they complete successfully the practice problems. There is also an area where they can go in and see their "report". However, I cannot see their progress. Only the person signed in can see it.
Keyboarding
Students will be spending some time each week in class keyboarding. I will be using FREE programs online, so it will not be spectacularly engaging. However, practice of the drills will improve their skills and can be done at home. I am still deciding on which one to use, but I will post the address when I have decided.
iKeepBookmarks.com
I will be putting frequently used bookmarks on this web site so you or your children can access them from home. Right now I have one called Calculation Nation there. It is a FANTASTIC site for math practice (at their level) and logical thinking. [My current favorite is neXtu. J] I will be introducing the games in class. However, students may access them at any time and read the directions for playing them.
Students need a login name and password. I have created 4 currently. They all center around the name of Zeb and a #, and the password is my last name with a #. You will need the underscore in the user name.
Accounts:
User name: Zeb_1 Password: porisch1
User name: Zeb_2 Password: porisch2
User name: Zeb_3 Password: porisch3
User name: Zeb_4 Password: porisch4
I have made these accounts for Calculation Nation so that the students can challenge each other. They will know that if a “Zeb” is online, that it is someone from the class. Each account has to have a separate email address associated with it, so at the current time, I only have 4 set up.
I will be updating this page as we get nearer to the first day of school so check back before then.
Cartoons from http://www.justkiddingcartoons.com/catalog/item/2190410/6291356.htm, http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/b/back_to_school.asp
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